#corkweek – National Champions from Ireland, Great Britain will be in County Cork joining over 2000 sailors at the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Crosshaven for Ireland's longest running sailing regatta - Volvo Cork Week.
Class winners from the 2014 Irish and British National Championships will be racing at Volvo Cork Week in an international, adrenalin packed showdown in Cork Harbour and the Atlantic Approaches. An exciting line up of highly competitive yachts will be engaged in an intense battle at the Royal Cork Yacht Club's showcase event and enjoying the full hospitality of the world's oldest yacht club.
On the 15th June, Royal Cork's Anthony O'Leary racing Antix was the overall winner of the 2014 RORC IRC National Championship, held in Cowes, Isle of Wight. Antix won the nine-race championship in the very last race, against a top class international fleet from America, South Africa, Great Britain and Holland.
"A great win for Antix and the same team will be racing at Volvo Cork Week." commented Anthony O'Leary. "The competition will be just as good, in many respects even tougher, as a number of boats that were unavailable at the British championship will be coming to Cork. Antix will need to be at the top of their game, if we are to succeed."
Antix won the British championship in the very last race, just ahead of Premier Flair skippered by Jim Macgregor with his daughter and British Olympic sailor, Kate Macgregor on board and Premier Flair is a definite for Volvo Cork Week. Marc Glimcher's American Ker 40, Catapult was the class winner at Key west Race week before shipping over to Europe. Catapult was third in the RORC IRC Nationals this month and will be racing at Volvo Cork Week with double Olympian, Peter O'Leary, calling tactics. All three of these yachts will be vying for victory at Volvo Cork Week and they are joined by a number of proven winners including; Dutchman, Willem Wester racing Antilope, Andy Williams' Cornishman racing Keronimo and Quokka, chartered for Volvo Cork Week by Nial Dowling and Michael Boyd.
Top performers from the 2014 ICRA National Championship will be racing at Volvo Cork Week. Royal Cork YC members, Denise and Conor Phelan, are the 2014 Irish big boat champions with Jump Juice and fellow Royal Cork member, Ian Nagle was victorious at the Irish Championship with Jelly Baby. Royal Irish YC member, George Sisk will be racing WOW and Clyde CC member, Finlay Anderson will be bringing Roxstar down from Scotland.
Proven winners at Cork Week will also be returning including, Royal Irish YC member Paul O'Higgins with Rockabill V and West Mersea YC member, Richard Matthews with Oystercatcher XXX.
Volvo Cork Week is proud to announce that the latest range of Volvo Cars will also be on display in the event village, which will be open from Sunday 6th July for a special edition one-day dinghy regatta. Organised by the Royal Cork Yacht Club, the Dinghy Dash for Cash has a prize fund of €1000. The entry fee will be just €10 per boat and the closing date for entries is 1st July. The Dinghy Dash for Cash is an open event but limited to just the first 50 entries. Competitors can enjoy the hospitality of the Royal Cork Yacht Club and Volvo Cork Week Event Village. 
Entries are still open for Volvo Cork Week. 

#corkweek – With less than five weeks to the start of Volvo Cork Week, the Royal Cork Yacht Club is ramping up preparations for their biennial regatta, which has been run by the world's oldest yacht club since 1978 writes Louay Habib.

Club officials and an army of volunteers are readying the event village in Crosshaven. An estimated two thousand sailors, friends and family, from all over the world, will be visiting the regatta during the week-long event this July.
"It's the showcase event for the club and it only happens every other year." Enthused Gavin Deane, General Manager of the Royal Cork Yacht Club. "The regatta organising team are highly motivated to lay on a professional event both on and off the water, which will be well-organised, exciting and above all - fun. We are determined to stage a regatta that the club will be proud of, a memorable occasion for everyone involved."
Volvo Cork Week Race Chairman, Anthony O'Leary reports on the race courses for 2014.

"Broadly speaking, we will have the same style of courses as 2012; Harbour, Slalom, Olympic and Windward Leeward. The major change will be an overall prize for the Harbour Course, which all teams will race on the first day of Volvo Cork Week.

The result of the Harbour Race will count towards the overall standing for the regatta but in addition the Hugh Coveney Trophy will be awarded to the 'Champion of Cork Harbour' – the overall winner on corrected time of the Volvo Cork Week 2014 Harbour Race. Previously this trophy was awarded for the best performance by an Irish Yacht in the regatta, but the organising committee felt a more inclusive award would have greater appeal, and thereby give appropriate recognition to the best performance in what has become the favourite race for many of our competitors."
New and Non-Spinnaker Classes
This year at Volvo Cork Week, the number of yachts racing in the popular Non-Spinnaker Class will be complimented by the all-new coastal and two-handed fleets, which are proving to be very popular at all major regattas across Europe. The race organisers have tasked Course Race Officer, Peter Crowley, with the responsibility of specifically designing courses to suit the needs of the non-spinnaker and coastal fleets. It promises to be a great improvement on years of old when non-spinnaker was confined to sailing courses designed for boats with spinnakers.
The coastal courses will allow boats that would normally be out classed or out crewed by some of the more modern and high performance boats, to race against like-minded sailors. This will provide a more relaxed environment, without taking away from the quality of the racing and lay a great foundation for some two handed sailing in the all-new two-handed class.
This year, along with the huge drop in the entry fee, Volvo Cork Week will also be holding a draw on the Monday night exclusively for non-spinnaker/coastal course boats. The first prize is a full refund of their entry fee and the second prize will be a bottle of wine for each member of the crew.
Sportsboats
First launched in 1994 at the Royal Cork Yacht Club, with the first European Championship held at Cork Week in 1998. The 1720 sportsboat class has undergone something of a renaissance in Ireland. As many as ten entries are expected for Volvo Cork Week, and for those familiar with the thrills and spills of the 1720, charter options are available, via the Royal Cork Yacht Club.
There will also be a nest of Vipers at Volvo Cork Week this year, the high performance skiff has proved extremely popular in the USA with hundreds racing across the country. At least four Viper 640s are expected to be racing at Cork Week including 'Oh No!' owned by Caroline Aisher and Julian Cook, from the Royal Torbay Yacht Club.
Cork Week is a great event; brilliant racing and course management and full of fun people who enjoy their sailing, on and off the water." smiled Caroline Aisher. "We have raced the Viper both in the UK and abroad and we are really looking forward to racing for the first time in Cork. The conditions are just made for the boat."
Charter Opportunities
If you want to experience Cork Week 2014 but don't have a ride, it is not too late to get involved. Various charter companies are offering opportunities for individual, groups all or whole boat charter. Award winning British based sailing school, Sailing Logic are proud to enter two Beneteau First 40 yachts for Volvo Cork Week 2014 and still have places available on one of them.
"Lancelot II Logic is fully booked and will be skippered by Tim Thubron with a crew of nine amateur individuals who booked up Cork Week well in advance. The crew includes a policeman, interior designer, a physiotherapist, a surveyor and a lawyer amongst others! However, Sailing Logic also have places still available to join Arthur Logic, a brand new Beneteau First 40." confirmed, Sharon Hayward.

#corkweek – Over 80 yachts have now confirmed their entry for Volvo Cork Week writes Louay Habib. More than half the yachts are Irish and a strong contingent of British yachts will be looking to take on the best that Ireland can muster. The entire Irish Commodores' Cup team will be racing along with competitors from other nations for the country versus country competition in The Solent this summer.
Competitors will be racing from Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland and France, as well as Hong Kong and the United States of America. The real attraction for coming to Volvo Cork Week is that the regatta is run by sailors for sailors and that is expressed in the excellent race courses and also ashore, with the legendary hospitality of the Royal Cork Yacht Club. Sailing is full of characters and plenty of them will be coming to Volvo Cork Week.

Irish Olympic Sailor - Peter O'Leary, Ker 40 - Catapult

"The whole of the Irish Team for the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup will be racing at Cork Week including, Catapult, Antix and Quokka and there is good competition coming from England and Ireland including, Keronimo, Premier Flair and Jump Juice, so the racing should be very exciting. Cork Week is an ideal work up for the Commodores' Cup; the variety of the courses and the standard of the opposition is sure to sharpen up all of the Irish team."

Honk Kong Reunion - Adrian McCarroll, X-37, Pure Attitude

"We have been coming to Cork Week for every regatta since 2000. We love the easy going friendly atmosphere surrounding the regatta, which spreads out to all the places we visit whilst there. The racing is magical and later, getting all the families together for dinner, is very special. Our crew and support team all have one thing in common and that is Hong Kong, but we are now dispersed to the US, the UK, Ireland and of course Hong Kong. We get together at Cork Week for a reunion. The first time we came, my son was still in nappies, this year he will be running the foredeck."

Wish List - Ronan Fenton, J/35, Sky Hunter

"Sky Hunter first raced at Cork Week in 1998 with the original owners from whom we purchased the boat in 2009. The crew are a group of friends from the Blackwater Sailing club in Maldon, Essex. In 2010, My wife and I, along with our two small children, cruised into Crosshaven during Cork Week and we have wanted to come back ever since. 
Cork Week is a huge yachting attraction for the racing and social scene and the whole team are looking forward to the "craic".

Returning to Cork Week - Philip Bourke, J/105, Jet Dream

"I bought Jet Dream in 2012 and it was love at first sight. I sailed her for the first time from Morbihan in France directly to Crosshaven. It was the wettest trip of my life, she leaked like a sieve but boy she was fast. I first attended Cork Week on a Castro 40, Justine IV, way back in the 90's but haven't been back for a while. I must admit that the sailing on the water was great and of a very competitive level and this is the only reason I'm coming back to do the event on my own boat this time. As a result of the financial hardship we have all gone through, I'm hoping the event will go back to the way it was, more down to earth and a little lighter on the pocket. But I'm sure we'll have a great time and I appreciate all the hard work the organisers have put into the event."

New to Cork Week - Dave Shanahan, First 34.7, Warrior

"I bought Warrior last year and we are somewhat of a novice crew from Dublin Bay. Besides the fact Cork is such a beautiful place, I have long read about this fantastic event and always wanted to get a boat and take part and enjoy what Cork Week has to offer. The crew are all over 50 and keen to sail and willing to learn and compete."

Top Class - David Rider, Frers 45 – Echo Zulu

"We have sailed at Cork Week three times before and the courses and organisation have been top class and the shore-side fun too, the best hospitality bar none. It's a long way to come but we think worth it. It must say something that my brother met his wife during Cork week ten years ago and liked it so much he now lives there too.
The crew, including my brother Michael, have sailed together for many years on various boats. We also have a few token youngsters on board to keep the average age below 55, a couple of the crew have won the week overall on Cloud Nine some years ago.
"

For nearly 40 years, generations of sailors have enjoyed racing at Cork Week. The regatta has evolved over those decades and Volvo Cork Week 2014 will be true to the core values of Ireland's most prestigious regatta - fantastic racing and great craic ashore. Gavin Deane, General Manager , Royal Cork Yacht Club spoke about the plans for the regatta. "Entries are up on this time last year and we now have an idea of roughly how many sailors we will need to cater for. For the yachts we are allocating berths on a first come first serve basis. If you are coming to Volvo Cork Week and have not registered with us, we would strongly advise you to do so, then we can include your crew and yacht in our plans. The Club is working tirelessly in preparations to make sure that all the competitors have a memorable regatta."

#1720 – You're in good time for the 1720 National Championships or any of this year's 1720 fixtures (see comment below from the class association) if you opt for this fun one design sports boat that the seller, MGM Boats, says is all set for the 2014 season. 

Moored in Cork, this 1997–built boat is a 'really clean' example. The boat comes well equipped with a full sail wardrobe, fully kitted road trailer with masting kit and lockers.

At €12,500, she's yours to sail away!

More on this boat in the one design section of the Afloat Boats for Sale site.

#corkweek – With Volvo Cork Week taking place just two weeks before this summer's  Dolphin Commodores' Cup, competing teams are eyeing up Volvo Cork Week as an ideal training event for the inter–country competition.

Early entries for Volvo Cork Week are promising a wide variety of sailors and yachts coming to enjoy, Ireland's longest running  regatta. Interest has been received from several high performance yachts from overseas and

Half of the early entries for Volvo Cork Week are from Dublin Yacht Clubs, promising signs of a strong Irish presence, looking to take on well sailed overseas visitors.

Maurice 'Prof' O'Connell will be crew boss for the Grand Soleil 43, Quokka, at Volvo Cork Week. Quokka, co-skippered by Niall Dowling and Michael Boyd will be part of the Irish team at the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup. " Cork Week will be our last event before the Commodores' Cup." confirmed Prof. "We will have the full team racing the boat and we will be flying the flag in Ireland for the last time before the big event based in Cowes. Cork Week provides the perfect preparation in terms of the different types of course and I believe their will be a number of races each day, so we will be leaving the dock before 9 a.m. and out on the water until after 4 p.m. Essentially we will be spending a full day on the water, taking part in races that are very similar to our main event, Cork Week will mimic the Commodores' Cup inshore races, there is no more an ideal preparation for us to bring the team to the boil."

Cork Week is famous for fantastic race courses set in the Atlantic Approaches and Cork Harbour, providing a variety of racing that is difficult to better. However, the X-Factor at any successful regatta comes from the people who take part and Volvo Cork Week has characters in abundance. Every team comes to Volvo Cork Week looking for success but the legendary 'Cork Craic' is just as appealing as the racing.
British sailor, Andrew Jones now lives with his young family in Dublin. Andrew will be the skipper of X-43, Fox in Sox for Volvo Cork Week.
"We've managed to scrape together a motley crew of elderly Dublin Bay racers, sleep-deprived Dads, anti-social short-handed offshore guys, Fastnet novices, oh and a former hot-shot Italian helm." commented Andrew. "We're looking forward to our first Cork week with Fox in Sox and hope to have some laughs...and we might just be one to watch if we can make our boat fly! I have put the crew together from contacts made during the 2011 Fastnet campaign and friends at the Royal Irish Yacht Club. I'm the only Brit, the rest are Irish and Italian. Some of the crew have done Cork week before on other boats but this will be my first time. It's the major Irish regatta this year, so it's a must do for us."
Tony Kingston's 33ft Dehler, Luv Is, from Kinsale was one of the first entries, Tony and his wife Alice, a former Commodore of Kinsale Yacht Club, and have competed many times at Cork Week.
Alice trims mainsheet upwind and spinnaker downwind. She has completed thousands of miles of cruising and racing and has the reflexes of a mongoose, having put up with my helming for longer than we care to remember!" laughed Tony. "Choryna handles the pit and helms her own Dragon when she is not sailing with us but the iffy clutches and wonky winches are no bother to her. Miah, a cattle rancher from West Cork, takes care of the bow. He prefers heavy weather and is never happier than when the wind is high. He has done at least five Round Ireland's and a few Fastnet races and prefers offshore racing but will tolerate the short races. He has no interest whatever in how we do in a race: Times, results, classes and handicaps do not interest him at all. Two Laser sailors in their twenties complete the line up, giving the team a big input into tactics, they can read the race and the race area better than the previous generation most of the time.
My tuppence worth of advice for first timers at Cork Week, is to sail conservatively and prudently on day one. Give way early and avoid damage at all costs. Whether right or wrong, damage will ruin your week. Better to give up half a boat length than spend the day at the protest room or boat yard. Everyone is more relaxed after the first day. Also, remain civil afloat, as you will meet ashore at some stage and you may well find that you spend the whole week afloat with the same small group of boats, as if tied by an invisible string. Much better to make friends day one and enjoy it. We still meet friends we made on the water twenty years ago."
Gavin Deane, General Manager of the Royal Cork Yacht Club commented on the affect that the title sponsorship from Volvo will have on the event.
"Having Volvo as partners for Cork Week is fantastic news for the competitors." commented Gavin. "The Royal Cork Yacht Club will be investing all of the funds towards Volvo Cork Week. The money will be used to support great race courses and the partnership has enabled us to vastly reduce the entry fees. The minimum saving for boats will be 40% and as much as 70% in some cases. The club will also be giving complimentary car parking to competitors, which has been an issue in the past, and providing more afternoon entertainment. When people are coming in off the water, soul bands and other live music will be playing, hopefully the weather gods will smile on us and after great racing, there will be a great Craic ashore. Those are the goals for Volvo Cork Week 2014."

#corkweek – Royal Cork Yacht Club has described the weekend signing of its new sponsor for Cork Week as 'a new chapter' for Ireland's longest running international regatta week. News of the new title sponsorship broke on Friday.

Cork Week is recognised as one of the premier regattas in Europe and the Royal Cork Yacht Club is very proud to continue to host this event since its inception thirty six years ago. John Roche, Vice Admiral Royal Cork Yacht Club and Chairman of Volvo Cork Week, is looking forward to welcoming many old friends who have been coming to Crosshaven for many years and of course also looking forward to welcoming new competitors to this premier event. Racing on Cork Harbour's world famous courses will, as always, be under the direction of Anthony O'Leary, renowned national and international sailor.

Adrian Yeates, Managing Diretor Volvo Ireland Ltd said at the weekend launch: "Cork Week has enjoyed a long and illustrious history, both on the Irish and international sailing calendar. Volvo Car Ireland, in conjunction with Johnson and Perrott Motor Group, is proud and delighted to add its name to this prestigious event. Volvo has invested heavily in the sailing arena over the years and Ireland benefitted greatly from the visit of the Volvo Ocean Race to Galway for the last two round the world races. Volvo Cork Week will be one of the biggest sailing event to take place in Ireland in 2014 and next year will be the turn of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta which we have sponsored since 2007. We are looking forward to an exciting programme in Crosshaven in July and welcoming sailors and visitors alike

In 2014, conscious of the economic environment, there will be a substantial reduction in the entry fees and the format of the event will change from five to four days, Tuesday to Friday inclusive with Monday being a practice day for those wishing to avail of this. Volvo Cork Week 2014 will strive to include ten races and will continue to offer free berthage and a free car parking space for the duration of the event.

Of course there will be the usual variety of courses set in open water, coastal and in the harbour which should test crew handling and get just about every sail out of the bag .

In recent years, Two-Handed racing has become increasingly popular all over the world and Volvo Cork Week will recognise this by introducing a two handed class for the first time. The Sir Thomas Lipton Cup is one of the Royal Cork Yacht Club's most famous awards and the trophy, dating back to 1900 will be awarded to the best yacht in this class. Also, by its very nature, sailing short handed reduces accommodation and living expenses for a competing yacht.

The Royal Cork Yacht Club, the oldest yacht club in the in the world, looks forward to extending a warm welcome to all sailors who come to visit and would like to extend good wishes to all for a very enjoyable and safe regatta.

#corkweek – July's Royal Cork Yacht Club's Cork Week regatta will share the same title sponsor as Dun Laoghaire regatta according to this morning's Irish Times Sailing Column. It's a move that gives the Swedish car marque the headline name to both of Ireland's big sailing events.  As previously reported by Afloat.ie, the Crosshaven event has had a number of key changes to its format for 2014 aimed at reducing costs for both competitors and organisers alike. 

The new sponsorship deal will be a shot in the arm for the biennial event that is Ireland's longest running international regatta, a sporting event that became a global name in the nineties when competitor boat numbers reached 700 in 1998 to rival the UK's Cowes week regatta.

Royal Cork's John Roche is to chair the new week with top Cork helmsman Anthony O'Leary in charge of the famous Cork Week courses.

The J109 fleet will race for national honours as part of the week and a new trophy for short handed competition is also to be introduced. Royal Cork's own 1720 sportboat fleet will also be racing.

The Irish Times has more on the story here.

#corkweek – Since 1978, sailors from Ireland and all over the world have enjoyed Cork Week writes Louay Habib. One of Ireland's top regattas has evolved over the years, taking into consideration the changes within the sport but the sailing grounds in and around Cork Harbour have stayed the same. Cork Week offers a variety of courses from Atlantic wind and waves to the tricky tidal confines of Cork Harbour and the legendary 'craic' ashore, hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club, significantly adds to the fun.

J Boats

Once again, the J/109 Irish National Championship will be held at Cork Week. A fleet of 20 yachts from Ireland, UK and overseas is expected, confirmed J Boats, Paul Heys. "J Boats has just completed an excellent London Boat Show and we can definitely see a resurgence in demand for J Boats right across the range. The J/109 Irish National Championship has always been a very popular event and we expect a good turn out for Cork Week. The J/70 design is going from strength to strength, with over 600 boats sold in America and Europe. In November, Maurice 'Prof' O'Connell was appointed J Boat dealer for Ireland and we are already seeing demand for the new Sportsboat in Ireland, we expect to see a number of J/70s competing at Cork Week.

High Performance

South African, Mike Bartholomew's Mills 40, Tokoloshe was runner up to Piet Vroon's Dutch Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens in 2012 and hopes to return to Cork Week with his new GP42, Tokoloshe.

"The new Tokoloshe needs quite a few modification to get it competitive for IRC and we are working on that now." confirmed Mike Bartholomew. "We hope to come to Cork Week and I am really excited about the prospect, as the competition, the courses and the conditions will, as always, produce excellent racing."

Capable of surfing at over 20 knots, the all carbon flyer will revel in the Cork Week courses on the Atlantic Approaches and Tokoloshe may not be alone. Hamble UK based, High Performance Charter, has similar yachts available to charter for Cork Week.

"Cork Week provides well run races in perfect conditions for fast light displacement race boats. High Performance Charter has a range of yachts available including GP42, Ker 40 and Mills 43." confirmed Bryan Davies. "These yachts will be in top condition for racing and the package includes delivery from Hamble to Cork and back. Basically a team can fly in to Cork have a real blast and fly home again."

Falmouth Boys

Tim Cunliffe's Cornish Half Tonner, Insatiable will be returning to Cork Week after coming runner up in IRC Three last time out. Tim explains why the crew from Falmouth will be coming back, proudly flying the Royal Cornwall YC burgee.

"First and foremost, in 2012 we had a successful Cork Week after arriving with no expectations, so I guess it is rather dangerous to be returning! We had great racing with the RCYC Admiral's team, Bad Company, and we would love another battle with them. We really enjoyed the Irish hospitality and Cork Week delivers the best IRC racing anywhere.

I know that there will be a Cornish contingent coming to race this year. There is an affinity between Cornwall and Ireland given the celtic roots, but also because the scenery is very similar in many ways, there has always a good number of boats from Falmouth that have come to Cork over the years."

1720 Sportsboat

A sizeable fleet of 1720 Sportsboats is expected for Cork Week from Dublin and County Cork based. Sailors from overseas will be joining Irish crews and chartering bareboats boats for their own teams. Jamie McWilliam grew up in Cork but has settled in Hong Kong. This summer McWilliam will be returning to race in the 1720 Class

"For the last few years, the 1720 Class has been having a revival in Ireland and I have been keeping up to date with mates, who tell me the racing is awesome. There is little you can do to optimise the boat, so it is really good one design racing and whilst the size of the fleet has been increasing, so has the strength in depth. For Cork Week, the 1720 Class will have some really great sailors competing and the spirit on and off the water will be superb. 20 years ago, courtesy of Tom Roche and the legendary Noddy, we had the best Cork Week ever and we are looking to wallow in nostalgia in 2014 - but with children this time!"

Cork Week Race Chairman, Anthony O'Leary has confirmed that he will be racing Ker 39, Antix with a very strong Irish team.

"It is very encouraging to see that we will have some excellent yachts and top class sailors coming to enjoy Cork Week but the event has always been about a variety of sailors and yachts, everybody will be made very welcome. The Royal Cork Yacht Club will open its doors to all competitors. As in recent years, Cork Week will serve up a variety of courses both inside and outside the harbour and besides outstanding racing, Cork Week will have a great atmosphere ashore."

The entry fee for Cork Week 2014 will also be reduced by 30%, compared to 2012 and the reduction in racing days and other measures will effectively reduce the overall cost of attending Cork Week by at least 20%.

Entry for Cork Week 2014 can be made via the official website or by contacting the Regatta Office: 00 353 (0)21 4831179

#corkweek – Cork Week 2014 is well underway and the management team has been making plans for Ireland's longest running and 'most prestigious' regatta. The sailing grounds in Cork Harbour and the Atlantic approaches offer a fantastic variety of sailing and that will never change. However, Anthony O'Leary, Racing Chairman for Cork Week, explains that 2014 will see some changes aimed at substantially reducing cost. Download the Notice of Race as a pdf below.

"Competitors can expect a variety of courses set in open water, coastal and in the harbour, which should test the crew handling and get just about every sail out of the bag. We are blessed with some superb sailing grounds and we are intent on making full use of them. The focus for Cork Week is the same as it has always been, great sailing and a fabulous atmosphere ashore.

The Royal Cork Yacht Club has never shied away from listening to sailors and, when possible, changing Cork Week to suit their needs. The resounding message from sailors in 2012 was that the racing is fantastic and the shoreside 'craic' is as good as ever but a major concern has been cost. For Cork Week 2014, the organising committee has addressed areas, that we have control of, to reduce cost for every competing yacht.

For 2014, Cork Week will have a 4 day racing programme running from Tuesday to Friday (8-11 July 2014). This will reduce the previous 5 day regatta programme but not the number of races. At least 10 races will be scheduled for all classes. This change is designed to allow competitors to take less time off work and can reduce their overall costs for Cork Week by as much as 20%

For those who wish to get out on the water earlier, Monday 7th July will be a practice day. The club will organise practice starts and races that will not count towards the overall series - that way competitors that prefer a 5 day programme will not lose out.

In recent years, Two-Handed racing has become increasingly popular all over the world and Cork Week will recognise this by introducing a Two-handed Class for the first time. The Sir Thomas Lipton Cup is one of the Royal Cork Yacht Club's most famous awards. The trophy, dating back to 1900, will be awarded to the best yacht in the Two-handed Class. By its very nature, sailing short handed reduces accommodation and living expenses for a competing yacht.

The 1720 Class has been having a renaissance in Ireland, there are 26 1720s in Cork alone and charter opportunities are available. Cork Week is also talking with other one design classes and we would be delighted to entertain discussions with many more class associations. The management team is also keen to encourage participation by charter companies and corporate entries and plans are in place to offer assistance.

In 2012, we decided to allow professional sailors to race at Cork Week in any of the classes and that will continue. We don't want to put up any barriers to people who want to come and enjoy some wonderful racing.

Cork Week is striving to keep down costs for all competitors, right across the board. We realise the importance of this in the feedback we have received. However, we will make sure that the event is a memorable occasion. We want to continue to produce a unique experience and a memorable occasion for everyone that sails at Cork Week.

The entry fee for Cork Week 2014 will also be reduced by 30%, compared to 2012 and the reduction in racing days and other measures will effectively reduce the overall cost of attending Cork Week by at least 20%.

Entry for Cork Week 2014 can be made via the official website or by contacting the Regatta Office: 00 353 (0)21 4831179

#corkweek – Royal Cork Yacht Club's Rear Admiral John Roche is to Chair Cork Week 2014, scheduled to run from July 5th to 11th next year.